The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-02

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suppose furnished egress to the desert
beyond, as well as placing US in favor
! able proximity to vast body of timber
| IN the neighborhood of Indian Spring,
| and at q point very favorable for a
branch extensions into the Las Vagas
d strict, situated about forty-five miles
southeast of the springs. We found
| this route to be impracticabIe owing to
the difficulties besettiDg the Quartz
| Spring Pass. 1t has an elevation of
1885 feet above the sea; it is accessible
| from the north by grade of reasonable
magnitude, but the descent on the south
side is, though quite smooth and
regular, little short of a pitch. So
steep is it, in fact, that in q distance of
| sixteen miles the average grade is 100
| feet. The slopes of the hills thanking
! the descent are on the right, so worn
into gulIies and deep raVlnes, and on
the left are so abrupt and precipitous,
that distance by them could not be
gained TO diminish the grade.
From the Indian Spring We pro-
ceeded west to Ash Meadows, distant
about forty miles. Influenced by in
formation obtained en- route we prose
cuted our examinations from this latter
peint with view to finding a route
O0dIluB UuOIc OlKCCLly SOuGuWSSL lIOll
the disappointment Spring. To that
resident, who, acting as guide, con-
Quoted US northeasterly TO Cane or
Belted Mountain Spring, distant from
ASH MEADOWS
about forty miles. Here also we took
observations with hand levels and field
glasses. Lying to the northeast and
apparently extending through the hills
into Emigrant Valley Is a low depres
sion or pass, through which, if practi-
cable, as appearances indicate, a most
irect route can be obtained between
Emigrant Valley and Ash Meadows.
Indeed, the result of our own observa-
tons, sustained by Information OBJ
tanned from old residents of the
practicability of this pass. Still we can
make no statement as to the nature and
extent of the work through it.
The direction of this route from the
vicinity of Disappointment Spring to
Ash Medows, near the Amargosa river,
will be southwest. crossing the Emf
grant Valley and the Belted mountain
range; thence emerging from the pass
it is forward through a broad valley;
and across the Amargosa desert to Ash
Meadows, distant about Ga miles. The
cost of construction, excepting at points
in the pass of which we can not def
nitely speak, will for the most part be
very light. Indeed, for a considerable
distance construction will consist of lit
tie more than disposing of ties and rails
over surface of floor-like uniform
ity. At Ash Meadows, good supply of
pure water is found, but over the other
parts of the division it exists at points
too remote to be of practicable service
in operation; still we feel quite certain
that at any point the needed supply can
be obtained by sinking wells.
TIMBER AVAILABLE TO THIS DIVISION
will require haul of about forty miles.
1t is located, as previously stated. near
Indian Spring, in the Spring Mountain
Range, and Will constitute a source OF
no inconsiderable Importance, It con-
slsts for the most part of yellow pine.
and it is VaTiodsly estimated that the
body contains from rs 100000 to
100, 900 900 feet Of lumber. and will sup
ply over half million ties.
Presuming that the ultimate object of
this road is to reach Los Angeles, and
as our present observations were not
carried beyond99 Ash Meadows. but bav-
ing at a previous date made hasty trip
through the country lying between this
Point and Mojavs Station on the
Southern Pacific Railway, we will state
that a practicable route can be obtained
down the Amargosa Valley, then via
the south end of Death and Panamint
Valleys to the vicinity of the San
Bernardino Borax Works. Should it
be attempted to follow the route we
travelled beyond this latter point. some
difficult and heavy work will be en-
countered before reaching mojaye.
Still we feel quite confident that this is
not the only available outlet from Ash
Meadows. From information obtained
from several Well-posted residents,
especially from Mr.. John Black, who
has traversed this locality in all direc-
tons for many years past, we are led to
conclude that conjunction with the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad can be
effected over a route which will not
only be practicable in its nature, but
will be quite economic in its distance to
connection with medium of
COMMUNICATION WITH LOS ANGELES.
But as we cannot speak from any per
5OudL AuOHAeuRc VI LuAS EOuGc UcS ouu
the Amsrgosa Valley, it must be left 10
future surveys to determine what actu-
ally can be done. As the instruction
under which our examinations were
conducted called mainly for an answer
to the question-can a road be got
through, and what will be it's probable
resources2 we have confined ourselves
to the presenting of such general facts
as seemed absolutely necessary in an
swering the question, feeling quite Ger
tain that SO important an undertaking
as the building of several hundred
miles OF railroad will not be entered
upon until careful and complete sur
vey shall have developed all minor de-
tails regarding both the cost of con-
struction and the merits of the vari-
Gus routes. And until such survey
is made, we could only make con-
jectural estimate; although we are quite
certain of the practicability and econ
omy of the routes We have described,
and also feel confident that between the
objective points 10 others so direct can !
be found, which will afordat the same
time so much advantage to the vast
mineral interests of the region.